Recruitment:Participants were recruited from the Champagin-Urbana, Illinois area by means of a mailed flyer and screening website.

Design: Participants were randomized into 2 groups. Group P was instructed to consume a diet based on the USDA's Food Guide Pyramid (FGP) that included three servings from the meat and meat alternatives group, two servings of non-fat dairy foods, three servings of fruit, four servings of vegetables, seven servings of grains, and eight cups of water per day. Group E was instructed to consume two Uncle' Ben's bowls daily, one at lunch and one at dinner, plus additional foods(one serving of meat and meat alternates, two cups of non-fat milk or yogurt, 2 1/2 cups of salad vegetables three servings of fruit, four servcings of whole grains, and 8 cups of water per day.Those in Group E were able to choose from 24 varieties of Uncle Ben's bowls that were divided into two categories.

Both diets had approximately the same calorie level (1700 calories) and the same macronutrient composition (55% carbohydrate, 25% protein, and 20% fat).

Participants were interviewed individually by a registered dietitian and information was collected by means of health history and physical activity questionnaires. The dietitian explained how to complete the food intake and activity records.

At baseline, each participant submitted a 3 day food record and 2-day activity record.Starting weight, height, waist and hip circumference, BP and body composition were measured. Fasting blood samples (drawn two consecutive days and averaged) for baseline levels of lipids, insulin, and basic metabolic panel measurements.

Participants were monitored once weekly for the duration of the 8-week study at a group meeting with a dietitian. Each group met separately with the dietitian. Compliance scores were calculated based on attendance at weekly meetings, completion of written records, and dietary adherence as reported by the participants. Three day food records were submitted every 2 weeks during the intervention that included 2 week days and 1 weekend day. Food records were analyzed for diet composition.

Weights were obtained weekly at breakfast meetings. Other anthromopetric and body composition measures and blood tests were completed at individual appointments at baseline and at the end of 8 weeks. Blood pressure was measured bi weekly at breakfast meetings.

Participants were advised not to change their activity level during the 8-week intervention.

Compliance scores were calculated based on attendance, completion of written records, and dietary adherence as reported by participants.

Blinding used: Participants were blinded to the protocal of the other study group and each group met separately to receive diet instruction. Investigators were not blinded while taking weights and dietary intake records, but were blinded when taking other anthropometric and body composition measures and blood serum analysis.

Intervention: A diet that contained two Uncle Ben's rice bowls per day in addition to one serving of meat and meat alternatives, two cups of non-fat milk or yogurt, 2 1/2 cups of salad vegetables, three servings of fruit, four servings of whole grains, and eight cups of water per day.

Statistical Analysis:An intention-to-treat analysis was performed on the primary outcome using data from all randomized participants, in order to determine ithe efficacy and acceptability of the weight loss regimen. Effectiveness of randomization was determined by using student's t-test.Significant differences in treatment compliance and dietary adherence were determined by means of a student's t test. Significant differences in changes in outcomes of interest between the two intervention groups were determined by means of repeated measures ANOVA.

Data Collection Summary:

Timing of Measurements: The study was 8 weeks long. Measurements were obtained at baseline and at the end of 8 weeks.

Dependent Variables:

Weight loss as measured by wearing street clothes without shoes or heavy outwear on a balance beam scale.

Changes in waist and hip circumference (method of measurement not specified)

Changes in blood pressure as measured using a standard sphygmomanometer

Changes in serum insulin, blood lipids, direct LDL-cholesterol, and CRP as measured by by Laboratory Corporation of America

Independent Variables:

Two portion-controlled entrees of Uncle Ben's rice bowls daily, plus recommended servings from the Food Guide Pyramid to total 1700 calories/day, as measured by food diaries and nutritional analysis using Nutritionist Pro Version 1.2

Control Variables

1700 calorie-diet based on servings of various food groups from the Food Guide Pyramid, as measured by food diaries and nutritional analysis using Nutritionist Pro Version 1.2.

Description of Actual Data Sample:

Initial N: 60 male participants, 30 in each of two groups.

Attrition (final N): 51 participants completed the study. Nine dropped out of the study for various reasons. Final n for group P was 26. Final n for group E was 25.

Age: 24-60

Ethnicity:The finishing cohort was 41 white, two African American, and eight from other ethnic groups.

Other relevant demographics: No infomation on SES or education level of participants was provided.

Anthropometrics: Groups were similar at baseline, with Group P having a BMI of 31.4±3.2 and Group E having a BMI of 31.3 ±3.1.Waist circumference of group P was 105.5±8.1 and group E was 105.6±10.0 at baseline. Hip circumference of group P was 100.7±7,1 at baseline and group E was 101.6±9 at baseline.

Location:Champaign-Urbana Illinois area.

Summary of Results:

Key Findings:

During the 8-week intervention, both groups lost a significant amount of weight, but group E acheived a significantly greater weight loss than Group P (-7.4±3.1 versus -5.1 ±4.0 kg), or 7.6 percent loss of body weight for Group E versus 5.3% loss for Group P.

The average reduction in BMI was signficantly greater for Group E than Group P (-2.4±1.0 versus -1.6 ±1.3 kg/m²).

Weight and body composition changes

Group P

Baseline

Group P

Eight weeks

Group P

Change

Group E

Baseline

Group E

Eight weeks

Group E

Change

Body weight (kg)

98.0±12.7

92.9±12.3

-5.1±4.0

96.8±11.3

89.5±10.5

-7.4±3.1*

BMI (kg/m²)

31.2±3.4

29.6±3.3

-1.6± 1.3

31.0±3.2

28.7±3.0

-2.4±1.0*

Body Fatness (%)

26.3±3.6

24.8±4.4

-1.5±1.4

26.8±5.8

24.7±5.8

-2.1±1.2

Fat mass (kg)

25.8±5.6

23.3±6.1

-2.5±1.8

26.3±8.0

22.7±7.4

-3.6±1.8*

Lean mass (kg)

71.7±9.3

70.1±8.7

-1.7±2.1

70.2±5.7

67.5±5.9

-2.7±2.2

Trunk fat mass (kg)

14.0±3.5

12.3±3.6

-1.8±1.3

14.0±4.1

11.5±3.7

-2.5±1.3

Waist circumference (cm)

105.5±8.1

101.1±8.5

-4.3±2.9

105.6±10.0

99.0±10.2

-6.6±3.3*

Hip circumference (cm)

100.7±7.1

97.8±7.1

-3.0± 2.0

101.6±9.0

97.0±7.9

-4.6±3.7

*Significant difference in change from baseline between groups, p<0.05

Reported dietary intake: energy and macronutrients

Group P

Baseline

Group P

During Intervention

Group P

Change

Group E

Baseline

Group E

During Intervention

Group E

Change

Energy intake (kcal)

2439.0±650.5

1715.8±339.8

-732.2±660.9

2406.2±716.1

1651.8±231.9

-754.3±679.6

Carbohydrate (g)

302.3±114.4

232.1±45.7

-70.2±112.2

298.3±94.3

260.5±39.8

-37.8±96.6

Carbohydrate (%)

48.7±8.0

54.5±6.2

+5.7±7.2

49.5±8.1

63.1±5.3

+13.7±7.3*

Protein (g)

99.8±20.3

83.8±13.9

-16.1±22.4

102.9±36.5

83.2±13.0

-19.8±39.0

Protein (%)

17.2±4.9

19.9±3.3

+2.7±4.3

17.5±3.9

20.2±1.6

+2.7±4.5

Fat (g)

93.3±28.6

53.6±18.9

-39.8±25.6

91.1±38.6

32.4±11.8

-58.6±33.0*

Fat (%)

34.4±7.1

27.5±5.9

-6.9±6.2

33.5±7.5

17.6±5.1

-16.0±7.8*

*Significant differences between groups in intervention intakes and in changes from baseline: p<0.05

Other Findings

Group E achieved significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure over time, while Group P remained unchanged, however both groups maintained blood pressure WNL during the study period.

The authors conclude that the results of this study support their hypothesis that the use of packaged entrees as part of a weight-loss diet is an effective means of achieving portion control and enhancing losses of weight and body fat.

Reviewer Comments:

Health and demographic information about the study population was not provided.

Partipants in Group E were provided with a wide variety of entrees to choose from. Participants in Group P had to self-select and prepare their own foods, estimate their portion sizes, and report them. Errors in portion preparation or reporting of portion sizes could have skewed the results of this study.

Research Design and Implementation Criteria Checklist: Primary Research

Relevance Questions

1.

Would implementing the studied intervention or procedure (if found successful) result in improved outcomes for the patients/clients/population group? (Not Applicable for some epidemiological studies)

Yes

2.

Did the authors study an outcome (dependent variable) or topic that the patients/clients/population group would care about?

Yes

3.

Is the focus of the intervention or procedure (independent variable) or topic of study a common issue of concern to nutrition or dietetics practice?

Yes

4.

Is the intervention or procedure feasible? (NA for some epidemiological studies)

Yes

Validity Questions

1.

Was the research question clearly stated?

Yes

1.1.

Was (were) the specific intervention(s) or procedure(s) [independent variable(s)] identified?

Yes

1.2.

Was (were) the outcome(s) [dependent variable(s)] clearly indicated?

Yes

1.3.

Were the target population and setting specified?

Yes

2.

Was the selection of study subjects/patients free from bias?

Yes

2.1.

Were inclusion/exclusion criteria specified (e.g., risk, point in disease progression, diagnostic or prognosis criteria), and with sufficient detail and without omitting criteria critical to the study?

Yes

2.2.

Were criteria applied equally to all study groups?

Yes

2.3.

Were health, demographics, and other characteristics of subjects described?

No

2.4.

Were the subjects/patients a representative sample of the relevant population?

Yes

3.

Were study groups comparable?

Yes

3.1.

Was the method of assigning subjects/patients to groups described and unbiased? (Method of randomization identified if RCT)

Yes

3.2.

Were distribution of disease status, prognostic factors, and other factors (e.g., demographics) similar across study groups at baseline?

If cohort study or cross-sectional study, were groups comparable on important confounding factors and/or were preexisting differences accounted for by using appropriate adjustments in statistical analysis?

N/A

3.5.

If case control or cross-sectional study, were potential confounding factors comparable for cases and controls? (If case series or trial with subjects serving as own control, this criterion is not applicable. Criterion may not be applicable in some cross-sectional studies.)

N/A

3.6.

If diagnostic test, was there an independent blind comparison with an appropriate reference standard (e.g., "gold standard")?

N/A

4.

Was method of handling withdrawals described?

Yes

4.1.

Were follow-up methods described and the same for all groups?

Yes

4.2.

Was the number, characteristics of withdrawals (i.e., dropouts, lost to follow up, attrition rate) and/or response rate (cross-sectional studies) described for each group? (Follow up goal for a strong study is 80%.)

Yes

4.3.

Were all enrolled subjects/patients (in the original sample) accounted for?

Yes

4.4.

Were reasons for withdrawals similar across groups?

Yes

4.5.

If diagnostic test, was decision to perform reference test not dependent on results of test under study?

N/A

5.

Was blinding used to prevent introduction of bias?

Yes

5.1.

In intervention study, were subjects, clinicians/practitioners, and investigators blinded to treatment group, as appropriate?

Yes

5.2.

Were data collectors blinded for outcomes assessment? (If outcome is measured using an objective test, such as a lab value, this criterion is assumed to be met.)

Yes

5.3.

In cohort study or cross-sectional study, were measurements of outcomes and risk factors blinded?

N/A

5.4.

In case control study, was case definition explicit and case ascertainment not influenced by exposure status?

N/A

5.5.

In diagnostic study, were test results blinded to patient history and other test results?

N/A

6.

Were intervention/therapeutic regimens/exposure factor or procedure and any comparison(s) described in detail? Were intervening factors described?

Yes

6.1.

In RCT or other intervention trial, were protocols described for all regimens studied?

Yes

6.2.

In observational study, were interventions, study settings, and clinicians/provider described?

N/A

6.3.

Was the intensity and duration of the intervention or exposure factor sufficient to produce a meaningful effect?

Yes

6.4.

Was the amount of exposure and, if relevant, subject/patient compliance measured?